This week's adventure was a special, guided tour to one of the best markets in Cebu. Sis Fernandez went with us and taught us how to bargain with trades people and it was really fun! First ... when I talk about "best" it is certainly NOT the prettiest place and nothing like a beautiful, fancy SE Asian mall.... but best in the terms of items available and prices. Absolutely no "zoning" or any order at all that I could make sense of. As far as Christmas markets go; I have seen some VERY gorgeous, orderly German markets when I visited Audra family while thy were living there. Since Christmas starts in September here - they just pile Christmas decorations, lights, music, etc. and it becomes there Christmas version of a big, popular market. Sis Fernandez knew her way around though and walked through a maze of vendors right where she wanted to go! The place sprawls over several blocks and is exactly what I picture when I think of a middle eastern "bazaar" or marketplace in any large country like India. There were parts of it that stank like fish because they were selling fish. There were other parts where flower vendors were tucked in little corners and the place smelled wonderful. There were jewelry makers and shell-chandelier makers, and basket weavers, hammock makers and even uki-uki (2nd hand clothes dealers). It was seriously almost a one-stop shopping adventure and obviously where most locals go to shop on a daily basis. There were folks hand peeling garlic so we could buy it already peeled Farmers came in from their very own farms and gardens brought fresh produce picked THAT morning. I was amazed at the variety and freshness. I was amazed at the variety and could have spent two days there without seeing it all. OK enough blathering, I'll just explain the pictures.
BELOW: Elder Harvey, and office Elder and our chauffeur for the day as well as one of our "schleppers"
Below: Elder Briones, Elder Harvey's companion and another office elder (meaning he serves in a specialty calling in the mission office. He is our finance elder.) In this photo we had just finished at the Christmas Star shoppe!
OK...the first stop was the Christmas star shop! Filipinos have an absolutely amazing way with Christmas lights. They don't have icicles and snow but they sure have Christmas lights. Any place that truly decorates, has either one or MANY stars to light the way for the Christ Child. These stars are very unique to the Philippines and made with fine shells formed into translucent sheets a bit like glass. They are very colorful (in most cases) and very brightly lit. Some are so LOUD with color and lights that I get a headache watching them! To be honest ... by the end of the 4-month Christmas season I am a bit tired of them, but they are also very wonderful and unique. This little shop is a teeny, tiny thing that all of us couldn't even fit in together. Literally hundreds of these decorations were hung and spread out into a back room and they knew their inventory well. We would inquire about a color or style, or size and they would bring out several to choose from and plug it in to see if we liked the light configuration. We all bought at least one and I will be bringing one home with a small nativity painted on the front. The following pictures will show the workers making them while we watched. They also made other lighted Christmas display items like Harley Santas, Palm trees etc.
Obviously, a family operation with kids, parents and even grandparents working in the production
BELOW: I can't resist these Dad-kid motorcycle pictures! This Dad was proud of his little girl and let me take a picture.
BELOW: I love this little lady! She and her son were selling individually packaged garlic and pepper and other seasonings to buy for just a few pesos a piece. These would take care of seasonings for THAT particular day or meal. You could tell they had prepared them and the packaging was ingenious. I stopped and talked to them about it and it was fun. She looks a bit grouchier than she really was. I wish I had captured her smile!
Below: It was a "girl" market day, and we stopped and posed while waiting for the elders to pick us up. It was a HOT day, and we were all dripping sweat and I'm amazed we didn't look more wilted than we did. Front left Sis Carillo our language teacher, Sis Beesley our mission secretary, Sis Brooks BRAND new and the new mission Doctors wife, me, Sis Fernandez and Sis Olayao our new service missionary who helps with housing and helps Sis Carillo.
BELOW: To end our day, President Fernandez met us all and treated us to lunch at a place called Choobie-Choobie. Mostly a Filipino seafood place and it was GREAT. They people know how to eat fish and seafood!
BELOW: Last, but not least a picture of Lahni right have she won a womans drive competition! Stud muffin!
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